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Entertainment · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs HandBrake

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Entertainment

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HandBrake logo

HandBrake

Video Production

Free, open-source tool for converting video to modern codecs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only HandBrake has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Adobe After Effects the Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's After Effects page on 1 January 2022 priced the standalone app at US$20.99 per month, with the full Creative Cloud All Apps bundle at US$52.99 per month; current prices may differ.; HandBrake not a video editor; lacks timeline editing or effects tools.
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, HandBrake covers Wide format conversion.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe After Effects and HandBrake actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and HandBrake differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsHandBrake
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macoswindows, mac, linux
CategoryEntertainmentVideo Production
Founded1990Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Adobe After Effects

  • Motion graphics
  • Visual effects
  • 2D and 3D compositing
  • Animation tools
  • Keying and rotoscoping
  • Color correction
  • Text animation
  • Particle systems

Only in HandBrake

  • Wide format conversion
  • Device presets
  • Batch processing
  • Cross-platform support
  • Filters and subtitle handling
  • Command-line interface

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Adobe After Effects

  • Motion graphics creationnot HandBrake
  • Visual effects compositingnot HandBrake
  • Title sequencesnot HandBrake
  • Commercial advertisingnot HandBrake
  • Social media contentnot HandBrake

HandBrake

  • Converting video libraries to smaller, modern formatsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Ripping and re-encoding video for device compatibilitynot Adobe After Effects
  • Batch transcoding for archival or storage savingsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Command-line automated video conversion workflowsnot Adobe After Effects

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Adobe After Effects

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's After Effects page on 1 January 2022 priced the standalone app at US$20.99 per month, with the full Creative Cloud All Apps bundle at US$52.99 per month; current prices may differ.

HandBrake

  • Not a video editor; lacks timeline editing or effects tools.
  • GUI can feel technical for users unfamiliar with codec and bitrate settings.
  • No official cloud or team collaboration features.
  • Support is community-driven with no paid support tier.

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe After Effects

$22.99/month
  • After Effects Single App$22.99/month
    • Motion graphics and VFX
    • 3D design space
    • Data-driven animation

HandBrake

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full transcoder
    • All presets and filters
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe After Effects if

  • You need motion graphics.
  • You work on Windows, Macos.
  • You also want visual effects.
Adobe After Effects review

Choose HandBrake if

  • You need wide format conversion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want device presets.
HandBrake review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or HandBrake better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and HandBrake at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or HandBrake?
HandBrake has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects and Free for HandBrake.
Does Adobe After Effects or HandBrake run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. HandBrake runs on windows, mac, linux.
Can I use HandBrake for free?
Yes. HandBrake has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month.
What is Adobe After Effects best used for?
Adobe After Effects is most often used for motion graphics creation, visual effects compositing, title sequences, commercial advertising. Of those, motion graphics creation and visual effects compositing are not what HandBrake is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that HandBrake cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. HandBrake covers Wide format conversion, Device presets, Batch processing, Cross-platform support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HandBrake: Is HandBrake free to use?

Yes, HandBrake is completely free and open source, built and maintained by volunteer developers with no license fees.

Source
HandBrake: What platforms does HandBrake support?

HandBrake runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Source
HandBrake: Where is HandBrake's source code available?

HandBrake's source code is hosted publicly on GitHub for development and contribution.

Source
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